The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-11-10
The Indiana Gas Field.

Maurice Thompson. State Geologist Yesterday
submitted to the Governor brief report of the
work done in his department during thepast year.
The law requires him to publish a report every
two years, hence the one to be printed will
cover the work of the coming year and will not
be issued until late in the autumn of 1888. Dur
ing the past year the surveys and examinations
have been of very interesting and valuable
character. owing to the discovery and partial
development of the vast deposits of natural gas
in the Trenton limestone. The borings in In
diana in search of this fuel, Mr. Thompson says,
have disclosed its existence in an apparently in
exaustible supply under an area of nearly 5000
square miles, with every probability of new dis
coyerles IN the near future. Next year he Will
publish an exhaustive detailed study of this
source of wealth and submit with it accurate
map of the gas fields. To do this will require
another years work as the well just completed
at Auburn DeKalb county, has opened an en-
tirely new and probably rich area of gas far
north of the Wabash river and the discoveries
in the extreme southwestern part of the State
show that the existence of the deposit reaches
the banks of the Ohio river.
Continuing Mr.. Thompson SAYS: 'tNo discov-
cry, not even the finding Of rich gold mines,
could have attracted more attention to Indiana
than has the discovery of natural gas. My office
and my private address have been overwhelmed
with letters of inquiry from almost every State
in the Union, and the excitement at gas centers
has been intense. Nor the wealth added to
Indiana be computed, as the proper and most
economical Application or natural gas to the
various uses to which it is suited is as yet in its
earliest stage. Should the present supply prove
persistent the influx of capital would. in the next
few years, be steady and heavy. There is no in
dication whatever of failure in any of the wells"
At Francesville and Royal Center, north of
the Wabash, the report states that oil of most
excellent quality has been reached At the lat
ter place the indications that a paying oil
field may be developed. The whole region north
of the Wabash is full of interest and promises
most valuable results Mr.. Thompson reports
that the eyes of everybody interested in the
natural gas subject are turned towards this city,
and that the introduction of the gas within her
limits viii be the signal for general movement.
But" he continues, $50 long this great city
hesitates there will be doubt in the minds of
those who are considering the question of in
vesting in any business affected by cheap fuel"
Prof. s. S. Gorby is engaged in making an ac-
curate statement of the number of wells bored
during the past year. but there is great difficulty
in obtaining exact information. Mr.. Thompson
highly compliments this assistant for his eff
cheney and experience. The regular geological
surveys by W. III. Thompson, principally in the
western division of the State. including the Kan
kakee region, have been pursued. The State
Geologist himself has devoted good deal of
time to survey of the great drift in middle
northern Indiana.